My thoughts on the Phillies season.

The Phils are once again unable to find ways to win at home, as they drop one to the D-backs, 4-2.

The Phils lose another game at home, as they drop one to the D-backs, 4-2.

The D-backs took the lead in the second as, with one man out, Justin Upton hits a solo home run, his ninth home run of the season, giving the D-backs a 1-0 lead. The D-backs increased their lead in the fourth as, with a runner on third, and with one man out, Paul Goldschmidt hits a sacrifice fly, knocking in Aaron Hill, who had started the inning off with a double, then moved up to third base on Jason Kubel’s fly out to center field, giving the D-backs a 2-0 lead. Three batters later, the D-backs made it a 3-0 lead as, with runners on the corners, and with still two men out, Chris Johnson hits an RBI single, knocking in Upton, who had earlier singled, moved up to second base on Miguel Montero’s infield single, before moving up to third on shortstop Jimmy Rollins’ fielding error on the play, while sending Montero, who had reached base on an infield single, would move up to second base. The Phils would get a run back in their half of the fourth as, with one man out, Chase Utley hits a solo home run, his sixth home run of the year, making it a 3-1 D-backs’ lead. The Phils then cut it to a 3-2 D-backs’ lead in the fifth as, with the bases loaded, and with one man out, Nate Schierholtz hits a sacrifice fly, knocking in Kevin Frandsen, who had begun the inning by being hit by a pitch, moved up to second base on Brian Schneider’s walk, then went to third base on pinch hitter Michael Martinez’s sacrifice bunt. The Phils tried to tied the game up at three-all in the sixth as, with a man on second base, and with two men out, John Mayberry, Jr. who had earlier doubled, tried to score on Frandsen’s single to right, but is called out at the plate on a throw by right fielder Upton, with catcher Montero applying the tag, although instant replay would show that Mayberry was actually safe at home. The D-backs added to their lead in the ninth as Kubel hits a lead-off home run, his twenty-third home run of the year, giving the D-backs a 4-2 lead. That would be the final score as J.J. Putz picked up his twentieth save of the season as he threw a 1-2-3 ninth.

Kyle Kendrick (4-9, 4.45), who was starting in place of Joe Blanton, who had been traded to the Dodgers earlier yesterday, took the lost as he pitched four innings, giving up three runs, only two of which were earned, on five hits, while he struck out two. Jeremy Horst, B.J. Rosenberg and Antonio Bastardo combined for four scoreless innings, giving up just a walk (Horst) between them, while striking out five (Horst (1), Rosenberg (3), Bastardo (1)). Josh Lindblom pitched an inning, giving up a run on a hit, while striking out a batter. Ian Kennedy (10-8, 4.15) got the win as he pitched six innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks, as he struck out a batter. Takashi Saito collected his second h0ld of the year as he threw a 1-2-3 inning. David Hernandez collected his fifteenth hold of the season as he pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a walk, while striking out a batter. J.J Putz received his twentieth save of the year as he threw a 1-2-3 inning, striking out a batter.

The Phils had seven hits in the game, with John Mayberry, Jr. leading the ballclub with two hits, a single and a double. Nate Schierholtz (Single, RBI), Chase Utley (Home Run, RBI), Dom Brown (Single), Kevin Frandsen (Single) and Kyle Kendrick (Single), had the other five Phils’ hits, as they did not record a hit after the sixth inning. The Phils also had three walks in the game.

The Phils (47-59, 5th East) will continue their series with the D-backs (55-51, 3rd Central) with a night game tonight. The game will be played at Citizens Bank Park and it will start at 7:05 pm EDT. The Phils will send to the mound Roy Halladay (4-6, 4.33), who is coming off a lost to the Braves on July 29, as he went six innings, giving up six runs on three hits and a walk, while striking out seven, in the Phils’ 6-2 lost. Halladay will be trying to improve on the last few innings of his previous start. The D-backs will counter with Joe Saunders (5-7, 3.62), who is coming off a lost to the Mets on July 29, as he went seven innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and three walks, while striking out five, in the D-backs’ 5-1 lost. He will be trying to give the D-backs the series win. The Phils will be trying to even up the series with a win tonight.

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